The overall result is an outstandingly beautiful and effective car with a drag coefficient of 0.174(Cd) and a CdA of 0.153m2, extraordinary even by land speed record standards. However it is the marriage of brilliant intuition, CFD data, and world-class design that has made the JCB DIESELMAX a handsome and effective machine.

Gary Major, head of JCB Industrial Design, and JCB designer Mike Turner spent a day at the home of Richard Noble before they put the first line on the CAD screen. Richard and Ron Ayers gave them an intensive course in land speed racing car history and aerodynamic principles. So equipped they produced an initial theme design which captures the essence of streamliner design. The graceful lines taper to the rear of the car, exaggerating the perspective and creating a vanishing point when viewed from the front quarter.

The final design integrates the underfloor profiles dictated by Ron Ayers’ aerodynamic development and reflects the optimised frontal area from John Piper’s engineering package design. The front air intake and nose profile evoke the famous streamliners of the past – Donald Campbell’s Bluebird, and John Cobb’s Railton Special.

Narrower and lower than the initial concept, the finished design is a stunning, sleek and modern interpretation of the streamliner genre.